Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
25 O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. - Isaiah 25:1(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
13 May he (the Lord) strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. - 1 Thessalonians 3:13(New International Version).
,br /> A QUOTE You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves. - Abraham Lincoln - - 16th president of the United States -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
He most lives who thinks most, feels noblest, and acts best. - From Proverbs for Daily Living - Knowledge is power, but enthusiasm pulls the switch. - From Reminisce Magazine -

FUN THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
It is never too early for a morning nap. - From Cats Rule - Act sweet and innocent and get what you want. - From Cats Rule -

NOTES
Today has been a cloudy day with a high temperature of 68 degrees and a low of 48 degrees. Yesterday I called Humphrey's Plumbing and made arrangements for them to come out to my house and check out my furnace. It was not giving me any problems but I just wanted it checked our for the winter. At 10:15 a.m. today a worker came and checked out the furnace, cleaned it good, and adjusted it. He wrote on the bill that everything was working good. At noontime I saw Charley and Bill at Taco Bob's. I went to the post office and then came home. I took my afternoon nap with Tony. Around 4:00 p.m. I went to the Petsense Store. That is where I buy my canned cat food since their canned food is cheaper than Walmart. They had two cats at the store needing a home. One of them was gray and white and looked just like my cat named Itty Bitty. The other cat was a tabby gray. I sat out with my cats for over an hour this evening since the weather was nice. Since last evening's Good Things I have heard from Burlene, Michelle, Debra and Geneva. It is always nice to get e-mails although I love each one who reads the Good Things.
The cats are fine. As I sat out with the cats this evening, Beau sat in my lap for a while after he had eaten his treats. The other cats were doing various things and sometimes one would come close enough for me to pet it. Rascal is in the recliner at present and Emmy was just here. I have seen all of the cats this evening.,br /> Have a nice Wednesday!
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 9:53 am EDT

Read / post comments

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“C’mon Baby, Let’s Do the Twist”
“I've spread fresh, clean sheets on my bed, colorful imported linens.” – Proverbs 7:16 (MSG)

“When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.” – Genesis 3:6 (MSG)

I am not sure if the following question is more philosophical or theological in nature, but is temptation still temptation if it does not appeal to ones sense of desire? Isn’t temptation all about the appeal? It’s about taking that which by its very nature is good, wholesome and even essential to our existence and then twisting it in ways it was never intended. For example, food is good and absolutely essential—but misused can be destructive to the very body it is intended to assist. Sex was created by God and is good and essential to continue life—but we see the results when it is used incorrectly, that it too is destructive not only to us but also to relationships as well. Money (or some form of payment for goods and services) has been a part of our human existence from practically the beginning—but allow greed to worm its way in and the result is equally destructive as the other two examples. Life is a great dance! Especially when you are dancing with the one who invited you—He is the Lord of Dance! But there is one who wants to pervert the dance and make it what it was not intended to be.
I remember my junior high years and the highlight of those times were going to my school dances. Everyone was there. The atmosphere was electric (as was the music) and when maintained with discipline was good and fun. But as in most cases, there were those who attended that were there to do nothing more than create havoc and mischief.
There are two parallels from the verse in Proverbs and the one from Genesis—they both appeal to the senses and they both appeal to our God-given desires. They are both very real and both a significant part of our human existence. To deny their reality would be like denying your own existence. And both are good examples of how Satan can take what is necessary and good and pleasant and twist it to fit his agenda. Consider this account in Jesus’ life: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” – Matthew 4:1-10 (NIV)
The reason for the inclusion of this passage simply has to do with Satan doing what he has been doing from the beginning—taking that which is good by nature: the physical, the psychological, and the spiritual, and attempts to create just enough doubt in Jesus’ mind as he did with Eve and make the wrong seem right.
But Jesus did not take the bait. He did not dance around the issues with Satan and do the “Temptation Twist” with him. A great lesson for us to learn. Life is good and what has been provided by God to make this dance more pleasant and enjoyable is to be embraced—but must always be kept in context. If you hear the words, “C’mon baby, let’s do the twist,” refuse him, and continue to dance with the One who bought you!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(King David Said) 22 “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears." - 2 Samuel 7:22(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. -2 Corinthians 1:3-4(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many. - Charles Dickens -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A word and a stone let go cannot be recalled. - From Proverbs for Daily Living - The art of conversation is not in knowing what you ought to say, but what you ought not to say. - Author Unknown -

FUN THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
The cat does not offer services. The cat offers itself. - From Cats Rule - The cheapest toy will outlast the most expensive one. - From Cats Rule -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 65 degrees and a low of 34 degrees. I had lunch with Charley, Steve Mayhew(Charley's pastor) and Doug Christian(our second cousin). I went by the post office and then Braum's store. I took my afternoon nap with my cat, Tony. I put our treats for the cats at 6:00 p.m. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Alice and Debra. I am always happy to get e-mails.
The cats are fine. Rascal was here just a few minutes ago as well as Emmy. I can't open my patio doors until I get them replaced. I heard a scratching on the patio doors a little while ago so I went to the living room and opened the front door and it was Rascal wanting in. He could have gone around to the back where the door is ajar but why do that when someone will open the door? Rascal always sleeps inside at night, most of the time with me. Emmy decided to sleep in last night. Around 3:00 a.m. this morning Emmy came to my bedroom, awakened me and meowed. I knew what she wanted so I got up and followed her to the front door and let her out. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
Have a nice Tuesday!
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. - Ephesians 4:25-27(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. - Psalm 1:6(New International Version).

A QUOTE
God is our friend when we've been rejected. - Sheri Rose Shepherd -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Go the extra mile. It makes a mile of difference. - From Reminisce Magazine - FUN THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
Nothing knocked from a shelf ever reaches the floor without knocking down something else. - From Cats Rule - If it's your free time, it must be my petting time. - From Cats Rule -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 57 degrees and a low of 42 degrees. I attended Worship Services this morning. It was another wonderful service. I had lunch at home. I took my nap this afternoon with my cat named Tony. I put out treats for the cats at 6:00 p.m. but it was too cool to sit out. I called my son, Ron, this evening and things were going okay with he and his wife, Angie, and their cats at their home in Oklahoma City. Since last nights Good Things I have heard from Margaret and Debra. I must close the Good Things and put the garbage our on the street for pick up in the morning.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in the recliner. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
Have a nice Monday!
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Ho-Hum”
“She threw her arms around him and kissed him, boldly took his arm and said, ‘I've got all the makings for a feast— today I made my offerings, my vows are all paid, So now I've come to find you, hoping to catch sight of your face—and here you are!’“ – Proverbs 7:13-15(MSG)

Are you tired yet of this “scenario?” Have you had enough of listening to how this young man is about to be snared into the spider’s lair? Have you come to the conclusion that Solomon (and/or myself) have exhausted every possible angle this passage can dish out? Are you saying to yourself, “doesn’t this guy have anything else to talk about? Enough already! Are you still reading this? If not, I am wasting my time typing this out because you started doing something else. But if you are, stayed tuned for what I am about to tell you will be worth the time. If you are “tired” of listening to this same old song-and-dance, if you are tired of listening to God’s instructions over and over again then I have some information that you might want to pay attention to—you are exactly where the evil one wants you!
You see, he wants nothing more than to break down every defense you have at your disposal and what is perhaps the greatest weapon we have in our arsenal is the Word of God! As the writer to the Hebrews writes: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV) If you are tired of the Word, you weaken yourself significantly and the barriers that stand between you and moral defeat increase each moment. His minions are pounding on the wall, attempting to chip out the mortar then removing the wall, brick by brick until they are able to come at you with a full frontal assault!
One of the things that bother me about a number of people is that it appears to me they believe that they have just enough religion to get by. They know just enough of the Word to make others think they know what they are talking about—They attend just enough at church to know what the latest gossip is. They give just enough so they can at least say they’ve done their part. But then when trouble comes at them “like a flood,” they stand bewildered, wondering what happened? How could this happen? How can this be happening to me? Most, if not all, of the world powers throughout history that collapsed and were conquered, fell not so much as from outside invaders as much as it was an eroding from within. Decaying morals, power struggles, has led many down the path of destruction—and that is not limited to nations but speaks also to each and every individual life. Boredom is a power-struggle: The part of the person’s spirit seeking excitement, adventure as opposed to the part that calls for order, regimen and discipline. Satan does his best to appeal that which seeks excitement—the thrill of the chase. He makes Christ (Church/The Word) seem mundane, too rigid, too limited. He wants you to think your life with God is not worth living. Perhaps this is why according to Christianity Today, 66% of the people who attend church on regular basis do not read the Bible on a daily basis. In fact, that same percentage will not read it at all during the week. In the story (if you are still reading) the woman here is promising excitement. She wanted him and dressed herself for the occasion. She wanted him to want her. It has been that same appeal that has plagued us from the beginning:
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” – Genesis 3:6
Just as in Solomon’s account, the serpent promised excitement—thrills—not some measly God-life. If only she could have seen and understood the truth that the life she already was living was beyond compare! That is the true lesson. I hope you were reading long enough to see it.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.